Updates
NOTICE OF DECISION
SANDY KNOWE WIND FARM LIMITED ELECTRICITY ACT 1989
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997
THE ELECTRICITY WORKS (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) (SCOTLAND)
REGULATIONS 2017
Notice is hereby given that Sandy Knowe Wind Farm Limited has been granted consent by Scottish Ministers, subject to conditions, to construct and operate Sandy Knowe Wind Farm, located approximately 2.7 km and 2.6 km south west of Kirkconnel and Kelloholm respectively, within the planning authority area of Dumfries & Galloway Council. The wind farm consists of 24 wind turbines, with a maximum tip height of 125m and associated infrastructure, as described on the Scottish Ministers Decision Letter.
Scottish Ministers have also directed, under section 57 (2) of the Town & Country Planning Act (Scotland) 1997, that planning permission is deemed to be granted for development.
A copy of the decision letter has been placed on the Energy Consents Unit website at the following link for public inspection: http://www.energyconsents.scot under the reference number ECU00000660 and on the application website http://www.sandyknowewindfarm.com
—————————–
Sandy Knowe Wind Farm Ltd ELECTRICITY ACT 1989
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997
THE ELECTRICITY WORKS (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2017
Notice is hereby given that Sandy Knowe Wind Farm Ltd, (a wholly owned subsidiary of ERG Power Generation SpA), company registration number 06850950, Seebeck House 1 Seebeck Place, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK5 8FR has applied to the Scottish Ministers for consent to construct and operate a wind farm to the southwest of Kirkconnel and Kelloholm in Dumfries & Galloway (Central Grid Reference NS 701 106). The installed capacity of the proposed generating station would be over 50 MW comprising 24 turbines with a ground to blade tip height of up to a maximum of 125 metres. The proposed development is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment and an EIA Report has been produced in line with current guidance.
Sandy Knowe Wind Farm Ltd has now submitted additional information to Scottish Ministers, which includes information relating to the potential noise effects of the development.
Copies of the additional information and the application (‘the information’) are available for public inspection in person, free of charge, during normal office hours at:
Dumfries and Galloway Council, Planning and Environment Services, Kirkbank House, English Street, Dumfries, DG1 2HS
Sanquhar Library, 106 High Street, Sanquhar, DG4 6DZ
Kirkconnel Library, Greystone Avenue, Kelloholm, Sanquhar, DG4 6RA
The information can also be viewed at the Scottish Government Library at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ; on the application website at www.sandyknowewindfarm.com or at www.energyconsents.scot.
Copies of the additional information may be obtained from Sandy Knowe Wind Farm Ltd (tel: 01383 749645) at a charge of £20 hard copy and £15 on CD.
Any representations to the application may be submitted via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot/Register.aspx; by email to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit mailbox at representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation.
Representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals), full return email and postal address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.
All representations should be received not later than 22 April 2020 although Ministers may consider representations received after this date.
Any subsequent additional information which is submitted by the developer will be subject to further public notice in this manner, and representations to such information will be accepted as per this notice.
As a result of a statutory objection from the relevant planning authority, or where Scottish Ministers decide to exercise their discretion to do so, Scottish Ministers can also cause a Public Local Inquiry (PLI) to be held.
Following examination of the environmental information and all views and representations received, Scottish Ministers will determine this application for consent in one of two ways:
- Consent the proposal, with or without conditions attached; or
- Reject the proposal
All previous representations received in relation to this development remain valid.
General Data Protection Regulations
The Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit processes consent applications and consultation representations under the Electricity Act 1989. During the process, to support transparency in decision making, the Scottish Government publishes online at www.energyconsents.scot. A privacy notice and a fair processing notice are published on the help page at www.energyconsents.scot. These explain how the Energy Consents Unit processes your personal information. If you have any concerns about how your personal data is handled, please email EconsentsAdmin@gov.scot or write to Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU.
|
|
————————————————————————————
ERG SUBMITS APPLICATION FOR SANDY KNOWE WIND FARM TO INCREASE GENERATING CAPACITY:
Sandy Knowe Wind Farm received planning consent in November 2016 for 24 turbines of 2MW of capacity. Each turbine will have a tip height up to 125m, with the project having a total installed capacity of 48MW.
Given the advancement in technology, ERG is now looking to increase the total capacity of Sandy Knowe Wind Farm to upwards of 81.6MW. The physical aspects of the upgraded Proposed Development would remain the same, with the same turbine numbers, location and height as already consented by Dumfries and Galloway Council. An updated application was submitted to the Scottish Government in August 2018.
ERG are working in partnership with Burcote Wind on the Sandy Knowe Wind Farm project, a Scottish renewables company based in Dunfermline, who have an active portfolio of projects throughout Scotland.
Regarding the Sandy Knowe Project, ERG is using a fully merchant power price business model that does not rely on the need for support to deliver the project. The planned investment in Scotland follows an organisational restructure and rebrand in March 2018. ERG has a strong commitment to supply-chain partnerships in the markets in which they operate and strives to assure that local communities benefit directly from its projects.
ERG have signed a shared ownership agreement with the communities surrounding Sandy Knowe for 4.17% of the annual net profit of the project, the equivalent of one turbine. ERG have also developed a bespoke procurement partnership that will afford Dumfries and Galloway based companies a 5% price advantage when tendering for contracts to supply goods and services on the wind farm.
Mark Evans, Head of UK Business Development at ERG said: “If the updated application is consented, we will generate a greater amount of green electricity within the existing footprint, with no increase in turbine numbers or physical size. The higher capacity would increase community benefit from £240,000 per annum to around £408,000. There would also be an opportunity for greater community ownership and capital investment.”
Mr Evans continued: “We are very keen to engage with the local communities . With this in mind, I would encourage as many local people as possible to come to our public information days in Kirkconnel and Sanquhar to hear more about our plans.”
ERG are hosting two Public Information days to update the local communities on the progression of the project to date. They will be in the Sanquhar Community Centre, Sanquhar, Monday 24th September, 2pm – 6pm, and the Hillview Leisure Centre, Kirkconnel, Tuesday 25th September, 2pm – 6pm. These events will be open to the public.
Press releases:
“The Board of Directors approves the consolidated financial statements and the draft financial statements as at 31 December 2017” http://www.erg.eu/en/media/press-releases?detail=360776
“Scottish developer Burcote wind has committed to buying turbine towers from local supplier CS Wind.
The company has signed a memorandum of understanding restating its commitment to sourcing” http://renews.biz/106200/burcote-pledges-scottish-content/
“Upper Nithsdale communities are being given the chance to turn wind energy into cash. A single turbine shared ownership project could generate a profits windfall which would be used to create jobs.” https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/turbine-money-spinner-upper-nithsdale-7264490
Sandy Knowe Wind Farm 